Backup goalie is one of bright spots in disappointing loss

STOCKTON - Matt Thomas tries to find something positive in each game, even though it isn't always easy.

Scott Linesburgh

STOCKTON - Matt Thomas tries to find something positive in each game, even though it isn't always easy.

And while he was disappointed in the Stockton Thunder's overall play on Sunday, he was happy with the effort of his backup goalie in the borrowed equipment.

Jody O'Neal is with Stockton, but his equipment hasn't shown up yet. He was able to put together an outfit and looked good relieving Cody Reichard, one of the few highlights for the Thunder in its listless 5-2 loss to the San Francisco Bulls in front of a crowd of 5,838 at Stockton Arena.

"San Francisco played well. But as a team, we weren't good, we just didn't do enough," Thomas said. "It's unacceptable, and I'll hold guys accountable. ... (O'Neill) was good, especially with what he had to deal with. And I was looking for something to be happy about."

O'Neill was signed on Jan. 19, and had not played in a competitive game since a seven-minute stint for the Thunder at the end of last season.

He missed Friday's win against San Francisco because of travel complications, and his equipment still hasn't been delivered. Reichard lent him his backup helmet and mask and other equipment, and O'Neill borrowed some pants from the Bulls.

"I'm really thankful that Cody and the Bulls lent me their stuff and that (Thunder equipment manager Brennan Cody) put everything together for me," O'Neill said. "And once you get out there, you just have to live in the moment. The score or equipment, it doesn't matter."

The Thunder trailed 5-1 with 13:30 left in the game when O'Neill replaced Reichard, who was playing for the third day in a row. O'Neill stopped all 10 shots he faced an a penalty shot from Alex Tuckerman.

Thomas said he had asked O'Neill if he wanted to go in the net after the Bulls' fourth goal, but the goalie wasn't sure he'd be comfortable with the borrowed gear.

"After the fifth goal I asked him again, and I almost didn't give him an option," Thomas said. "He needed to get in the net and feel the puck a bit."

The Bulls (15-20-5) opened a 2-0 lead in the first period, and the Thunder (21-15-7) showed a little life 8:15 into the second when Matt Bergland scored a hard-working goal in front of the San Francisco net.

But Stockton couldn't keep any momentum, and was shut down by Bulls goalie Taylor Nelson until Gabriel Levesque's goal with 3:10 remaining in the contest.